1. Series: Relationships, For Better or Worse The Scourge of Selfishness

2. Luke 15:11-32(NKJV) 11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

3. The Scourge of Selfishness 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ 20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

4. The Scourge of Selfishness 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. 25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

5. The Scourge of Selfishness 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”

6. The Scourge of Selfishness Father/two sons Younger son/”friends” Younger son/citizen of far country God/younger son Father/younger son Father/hired servants Hired servants/sons Elder brother/younger brother Father/elder son

7. The Scourge of Selfishness Selfishness of the younger son revealed

8. The Scourge of Selfishness Selfishness of the younger son revealed Considered himself and no one else - 12 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.

9. The Scourge of Selfishness Selfishness of the younger son revealed Considered himself and no one else - 12 Claimed goods and attention in a selfish manner - 12 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.

10. The Scourge of Selfishness Selfishness of the younger son revealed Considered himself and no one else - 12 Claimed goods and attention in a selfish manner - 12 Cut ties and any safety nets with those around him – 13a-b 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country...

11. The Scourge of Selfishness Selfishness of the younger son revealed Considered himself and no one else - 12 Claimed goods and attention in a selfish manner - 12 Cut ties and any safety nets with those around him – 13a Carelessness in his actions...and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

12. The Scourge of Selfishness Selfishness of the younger son revealed Considered himself and no one else - 12 Claimed goods and attention in a selfish manner - 12 Cut ties and any safety nets with those around him – 13a Carelessness in his actions Consequences of his actions 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

13. The Scourge of Selfishness Luke 4:4:…It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

14. The Scourge of Selfishness Luke 4:4:…It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Is our relationship with God important?

15. The Scourge of Selfishness Luke 4:4:…It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Is our relationship with God important? Are we wasting our life like the prodigal son?

16. The Scourge of Selfishness Luke 4:4:…It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Is our relationship with God important? Are we wasting our life like the prodigal son? Are there spiritual things in our lives we need to be doing that we are overlooking?

17. The Scourge of Selfishness Luke 4:4:…It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Is our relationship with God important? Are we wasting our life like the prodigal son? Are there spiritual things in our lives we need to be doing that we are overlooking? Does that affect our relationship with God?

18. The Scourge of Selfishness Luke 4:4:…It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Is our relationship with God important? Are we wasting our life like the prodigal son? Are there spiritual things in our lives we need to be doing that we are overlooking? Does that affect our relationship with God? Does our relationship with God affect our relationship with others?

19. The Scourge of Selfishness Luke 4:4:…It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Is our relationship with God important? Are we wasting our life like the prodigal son? Are there spiritual things in our lives we need to be doing that we are overlooking? Does that affect our relationship with God? Does our relationship with God affect our relationship with others? Does our relationship with others affect our relationship with God?

20. The Scourge of Selfishness Senselessness of his actions are realized

21. The Scourge of Selfishness Senselessness of his actions are realized Careless with his relationship with God and family

22. The Scourge of Selfishness Senselessness of his actions are realized Careless with his relationship with God and family Cost of his actions were great – 16 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

23. The Scourge of Selfishness Senselessness of his actions are realized Careless with his relationship with God and family Cost of his actions were great – 16 Correction was available – 17-19 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

24. The Scourge of Selfishness Sadness of his actions rectified

25. The Scourge of Selfishness Sadness of his actions rectified Continued to act upon his realized need – 20a 20 “And he arose and came to his father

26. The Scourge of Selfishness Sadness of his actions rectified Continued to act upon his realized need – 20a Came to the father – 20 …But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

27. The Scourge of Selfishness Sadness of his actions rectified Continued to act upon his realized need – 20a Came to the father – 20 Confessed his failure and sin - 21 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

28. The Scourge of Selfishness Sadness of his actions rectified Continued to act upon his realized need – 20a Came to the father – 20 Confessed his failure and sin - 21 Celebration of his return was great and long awaited – 22-24 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

29. The Scourge of Selfishness Spiteful feelings revealed in his brother Challenging emotions are often hard to confine – 25-28 25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’ 28 “But he was angry and would not go in….

30. The Scourge of Selfishness Spiteful feelings revealed in his brother Caring relationships continue to continue on – 28b-31 …Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

31. The Scourge of Selfishness Spiteful feelings revealed in his brother Cherished relationships need to be cherished and upheld for what they not only are, but what they can be in life - 32 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”

32. The Scourge of Selfishness What can we learn?

33. The Scourge of Selfishness What can we learn? Selfishness is a scourge to relationships.

34. The Scourge of Selfishness What can we learn? Selfishness is a scourge to relationships. Relationships that are broken can be mended.

35. The Scourge of Selfishness What can we learn? Selfishness is a scourge to relationships. Relationships that are broken can be mended. Forgiveness can be found and obtained.

36. The Scourge of Selfishness What can we learn? Selfishness is a scourge to relationships. Relationships that are broken can be mended. Forgiveness can be found and obtained. Selfishness is not the only relationship killers.

37. The Scourge of Selfishness What can we learn? Selfishness is a scourge to relationships. Relationships that are broken can be mended. Forgiveness can be found and obtained. Selfishness is not the only relationship killers. Relationships can be taken for granted.

38. The Scourge of Selfishness What can we learn? Selfishness is a scourge to relationships. Relationships that are broken can be mended. Forgiveness can be found and obtained. Selfishness is not the only relationship killers. Relationships can be taken for granted. Personal relationships affect other’s relationships around us.

39. The Scourge of Selfishness What can we learn? Selfishness is a scourge to relationships. Relationships that are broken can be mended. Forgiveness can be found and obtained. Selfishness is not the only relationship killers. Relationships can be taken for granted. Personal relationships affect other’s relationships around us. Relationships are worth protecting and are worth fixing.